Welcome back to the latest edition of our weekly roundup! This week brings a flurry of exciting news your way — from the potential return of Travis Kalanick to the realm of autonomous vehicles, to CoreWeave’s CEO reaching a staggering $10 billion net worth, to Apple users expressing discontent with the marketing of its new “F1” movie, and much more.
Quick heads up that we will be taking a break next week for the July 4 holiday. Enjoy your weekend!
Another notable update: Meta has made a significant move by hiring Trapit Bansal, a key researcher from OpenAI, to bolster its new AI superintelligence team. Bansal, known for his work on OpenAI’s reasoning models alongside Ilya Sutskever, is now part of Meta’s powerhouse team of AI experts poached from rival laboratories, as Zuckerberg ramps up the company’s AI efforts.
On the horizon: Travis Kalanick is reportedly considering a comeback to the self-driving car industry, eyeing the acquisition of Pony AI’s U.S. division with support from Uber. This potential move signifies a full-circle moment for the Uber co-founder, transitioning from ghost kitchens post-2017 ousting to a potential reentry into the autonomous vehicle space.
Legal victory for AI firms: A federal judge has delivered a significant win for AI companies by ruling that training on copyrighted books without permission can qualify as fair use. While creators are grappling with the implications, the court is set to proceed with a trial involving Anthropic’s alleged use of pirated books to construct a comprehensive “central library.”
Welcome to the Week in Review by TechCrunch, where we highlight the top news of the week. Interested in receiving this as a newsletter every Saturday? Subscribe here.
Noteworthy Events
Innovative fashion: Google has unveiled a new experimental app named Doppl, enabling users to virtually try on outfits using an AI-generated avatar from a single photo. This cutting-edge technology allows users to mix and match clothing items from various sources and even create short videos to visualize how the outfit moves in real life.
Green energy initiative: Redwood Materials, led by JB Straubel, has activated the largest microgrid in North America, powered by 805 retired EV batteries to fuel an AI data center. Through Redwood Energy, Straubel is transforming old car batteries into a sustainable and profitable energy source, potentially surpassing the company’s core recycling business.
Financial ascent: CoreWeave’s CEO, Michael Intrator, has seen his net worth skyrocket to an astounding $10 billion, following the tumultuous IPO journey of his AI cloud company. Originating from humble beginnings in crypto mining, CoreWeave has evolved into a GPU-driven AI powerhouse catering to industry giants like OpenAI and Microsoft, albeit with substantial debt and challenging financial conditions.
Content controversy: OpenAI has discreetly removed a promotional video featuring the partnership between Sam Altman, Jony Ive, and a $6.5 billion device startup. While the reasons for the video’s removal remain undisclosed, it does not indicate a collapse of the deal.
Apple’s marketing misstep: Apple’s promotion of “F1: The Movie” within its Wallet app has sparked frustration among users, who view the unsolicited ad as an intrusion into core app functionality. This incident reignites concerns about Apple’s utilization of essential apps for self-promotion without user consent.
Safety scrutiny: Just a day after Tesla initiated rides in its new robotaxis in Austin, Texas, federal safety regulators have initiated inquiries following videos depicting autonomous vehicles exhibiting erratic behavior. The NHTSA’s engagement with Tesla raises fresh doubts about the safety of Tesla’s unsupervised Full Self-Driving technology, even with human oversight.
Monetization maneuver: Google is introducing a new tool in Ad Manager, dubbed Offerwall, to assist websites in generating revenue through alternative means such as micropayments, surveys, or incentivized ad viewing. While early tests demonstrate modest revenue increases, this development underscores Google’s awareness of its impact on the digital ecosystem.
Organizational overhaul: Elon Musk has reportedly dismissed Omead Afshar, Tesla’s vice president overseeing sales and manufacturing in North America and Europe, a key figure within Musk’s inner circle. Afshar’s departure coincides with a period of stagnant sales growth for the company.
Social media setback: Reports of widespread bans on Instagram and Facebook users have surfaced, with complaints extending to the suspension of Facebook Groups. The root cause of these mass bans remains unknown, with speculation suggesting faulty AI-driven moderation algorithms as a potential explanation.
Parting Thoughts
Memorable moment: The iconic Windows error screen is undergoing a transformation nearly four decades after its debut in the initial Windows version. Users will bid farewell to the blue screen of death, transitioning to a black screen of death. A tribute to a classic feature.
